Riviere de Galets Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, looking at the picture for the next couple of weeks. It's a bit of a mixed bag, but we've got a couple of windows that could be worth a look if you're keen.

The first real standout is a bit of a wait, but it's got the makings of something special. We're looking at Riviere de Galets (a reef and point setup) and the water is already a touch warmer than normal, sitting at 77°F, which is a nice bonus for this time of year.

The first real chance for a surf comes in on Friday afternoon, the 21st of August. We've got a solid 5ft SW groundswell with a period of 14 seconds rolling in. The energy is moderate (963), and while the wind is a cross-shore breeze, it's a bit of a chop-fest, so the forecast is calling it marginal. Honestly, it's not going to be great, but it's something to get wet.

The swell builds through the weekend, but the wind stays cross-shore. By Sunday morning, the 23rd, the swell is up to 8ft from the SSW, with very strong energy (2515). That's getting into the "too big for beginners" territory, but the wind is a gentle breeze, so the chop is slight. It's still a cross-shore, which is a bit of a shame, but it's the best of the early days.

The real highlight, though, looks like it's going to be on Thursday, the 27th of August. That morning, we've got an 8ft SSW groundswell with a very long period of 16 seconds. The energy is very strong (3113). That long period is going to make for some proper, powerful waves, and this being a reef and point break, it's absolutely the right setup for that kind of swell. The downside is the wind is a cross-onshore, so it's going to be a bit choppy and not perfectly clean. Still, the power in the water is undeniable.

The following day, Friday the 28th, the swell jumps to 13ft and then 18ft with a 17-second period and massive energy (10371 then 17418). That is way too big and the wind is howling onshore. This is no longer a paddle surf scenario; the setup is more interesting for kite surfing. We then have a solid week of big, messy, and windy conditions, with the swell dropping from 13ft on the 29th down to 8ft by the 30th, but the wind is still a strong cross-shore. It's just not going to be clean.

Then we get a bit of a reprieve. Monday, the 31st of August has a 10ft swell from the East, but the period is a short 10 seconds. The wind is still a strong cross-shore, and the forecast actually says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. Probably give it a miss.

The best of the second week comes on Wednesday morning, the 2nd of September. The swell is a more manageable 7ft from the East, but the period is still short at 10 seconds. The wind, however, is a gentle cross-offshore breeze, and the conditions are described as clean. That's the key here. The energy is moderate (905), but with clean lines, it could be a fun session on the smaller boards.

The final real standout is Saturday morning, the 5th of September. We've got an 8ft swell from the ESE with a short period of 9 seconds and moderate energy (1811). The wind is a gentle cross-shore, so the chop is slight. It's not a classic, but it's a solid, surfable size with ok conditions.

So, to sum it up: the one to really circle on the calendar is Thursday, the 27th of August, for the sheer power of that long-period groundswell. The forecast is a bit messy with the cross-onshore wind, but the wave quality from that swell on a reef should be special. The other one to keep an eye on is Wednesday, the 2nd of September, for the cleanest conditions of the whole run. It's a bit of a gamble either way, but that's the call.

Rusty.

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